Waste Sensor Power Management via Temperature Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor technologies for remote monitoring of waste in waste containers face challenges such as inefficient power management, high data transmission costs, frequent battery replacements, and reduced service life, which hinder optimized waste collection and recycling processes in urban environments.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with a power management system that includes a low-power processor and ultrasonic transceiver, coupled with a temperature sensor to switch between activated and reduced-power modes based on temperature variations, optimizing power usage and extending battery life, while also emitting warning messages for temperature thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor device operates continuously in activated mode to monitor waste and transmit data, then monitoring accuracy and data transmission reliability are improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device alternates between activated mode and reduced-power mode in periodic cycles. During activated mode, the device performs waste monitoring and data transmission. During reduced-power mode, the device enters sleep state with minimal power consumption. This periodic operation resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable monitoring through regular activation cycles while extending battery life through extended sleep periods between activations.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically adjusts its operational state based on temperature conditions. When temperature exceeds the threshold, the device switches from activated mode to reduced-power mode to prevent overheating and conserve energy. This dynamic state adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting monitoring intensity to environmental conditions, maintaining reliability when needed while reducing power consumption when temperatures are acceptable.
2Loss of information
If the sensor device operates in activated mode to support wireless communication and monitoring, then data transmission capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device transmits data periodically rather than continuously. It accumulates monitoring data during reduced-power mode and transmits batches of data during activated mode. This approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining data transmission capability through periodic updates while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The device maintains continuous monitoring capability even in reduced-power mode by keeping the temperature sensor active and the processor in low-power standby. This ensures that monitoring action continues without interruption while consuming minimal power, resolving the contradiction between maintaining data transmission readiness and reducing energy usage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the sensor device monitors temperature continuously to prevent overheating, then device safety is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device implements temperature monitoring with feedback control. The temperature sensor continuously monitors device temperature, and when the threshold is exceeded, the system provides feedback to switch from activated mode to reduced-power mode. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing continuous safety monitoring only when necessary, reducing power consumption during normal operating conditions while maintaining overheating protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the efficiency of waste collection by reducing power consumption, prolonging sensor device and battery life, and improving safety through selective power usage and temperature monitoring, leading to more efficient resource utilization and reduced environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a data processing arrangement including a processor unit having a low power functioning side, the data processing arrangement including an ultrasonic transceiver for measuring a fill level within the waste container
Implementation Method 2
the sensor arrangement additionally includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of at least the power source
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor device used in remote monitoring of waste within a waste container includes a sensor arrangement for monitoring the waste and for generating a corresponding waste-indicative signal, a data processing arrangement for receiving the waste-indicative signal, a wireless interface coupled to the data processing arrangement for enabling the data processing device to emit wireless signals including information derived from the waste-indicative signal, and a power source for providing power to operate the sensor device. The sensor arrangement additionally includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of at least the power source, and the data processing arrangement is operable to be switched from the second reduced-power mode to the first activated mode as a function of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. This enables power saving and increased service life of the sensor, battery, and the waste container.